Thursday, May 10, 2007

"John Milton" is the final track on the curiously non-perilous 'The Academy in Peril.' It's a good composition, and that's no lie, but I have to admit that I don't understand the connection between the work and its namesake. The piano composition is Cale's usual pensive and slow-to-slower meandering (also observed on this album in the title track and "Brahms", and taken to its acme on the 'Process' soundtrack). Here it's sweetened up and even focused by an intermittently appearing, constantly mutating orchestral arrangement. There's likely no technique you haven't heard before in the orchestration, but it's well done. Overall an eclectic and enjoyable piece of music.